“April Fool”

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HUMOR IN UNIFORM

Unforgettable Memories of My Delightful Navy Life

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HOW I WAS MADE AN “APRIL FOOL”

Story By Navy Veteran Vikram Karve

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APRIL FOOL

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Today — is the 31st of March.

Tomorrow — is the 1st of April — April Fool’s Day.

So — here is my story for April Fool’s Day.

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Dear Reader,

Let me tell you how I was made an “April Fool” — 41 years ago — on the 1st of April 1983.

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PROLOGUE

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One of my weaknesses is that I am a simpleton.

I easily trust people.

And — due to my trusting nature — I am most “gullible” — as can be seen from this story — where I was made an “April Fool”…

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“APRIL FOOL” ON ALL FOOLS’ DAY

Unforgettable Memories of My Delightful Navy Life

Story By Vikram Karve

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April Fool’s Day (also known as All Fools’ Day) is celebrated annually on the First Day of April.

It is a time for the traditional playing of pranks on unsuspecting people — the victim of such a prank being called an April Fool.

One of my weaknesses is my trusting nature — I easily trust people.

Because of my simple trusting nature — it is easy for anyone to take me for a ride.

Yes — you can easily make a fool of me — and so — I have been made an “April Fool” so many times — right from my childhood.

In fact — owing to my trusting nature — I am a simpleton.

Yes — I am quite a gullible person.

Therefore — I am a prime target for April Fool Pranks.

When I hark back and think of the occasions when I was made an unsuspecting victim of April Fool Jokes — and when I recall all the April Fool Pranks I was subjected to — I can never forget how I was made a total “April Fool” — 41 years ago — on the 1st of April 1983.

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Here is my “April Fool” story — have a laugh…

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HOW I WAS MADE AN “APRIL FOOL”

“Memoir” by Vikram Karve

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New Delhi

01 April 1983

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It was 10 AM (1000 Hrs in Navy Parlance) on the 1st of April 1983

I was busy with my research work at the Indian Institute of Technology, New Delhi (IIT Delhi)

Yes — after slogging for more than 6 years in the 1970’s and early 1980’s as an Officer in the Navy — afloat and ashore — I got a call for the M. Tech. selection interview.

I appeared for the interview in February 1981 — and — I was selected to undergo the prestigious Two Years Master of Technology (M. Tech.) Post Graduate Course in Engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology New Delhi aka IIT Delhi from July 1981 to July 1983.

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This story happened on 01 April 1983 — when I was in my last semester (4th semester) of my Two Year M.Tech. Course.

As was the practice in the 4th semester of M. Tech. those days — I was busy completing my dissertation research work.

My Navy Friend — my ex-shipmate — he entered the “Tropo Lab” — located right on top of IIT Delhi.

He was also doing M. Tech. at IIT Delhi — but in a different specialization.

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My ex-shipmate said excitedly:

“Hey — Vikram — congratulations.

Your appointment letter has been issued.

You will be going to “IAT Pune” after your M. Tech.”

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I was very happy and joyfully excited to hear this.

Pune is my hometown.

I had never expected a posting to Pune in my Naval Career.

I was under the impression that — except for a few “billets” at the National Defence Academy (NDA) Khadakwasla — there were hardly any billets for Naval Officers in Pune — especially for Technical Officers.

In fact — I was worried that they may transfer me back to INS Valsura Jamnagar — where I had spent less than one year (1980–81) on instructional duties — before “escaping” from that desolate place — as I was selected for my M. Tech. at IIT Delhi.

I had no desire of going back to that godforsaken place again.

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My Navy Friend said to me:

“You don’t seem to be happy to go to Pune…”

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I said to him:

“Of course — I am very happy to go to Pune.

But how do you know about my appointment…?”

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My Navy Friend said to me:

“I had gone to INS India — to the Base Supply Office — for some work.

I saw your name in a NA List over there.

I have just come from there.

And — the moment I reached IIT — I came straight here to tell you the good news that you have been transferred to IAT Pune on Instructional Duties after your M. Tech.”

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Those days Naval Headquarters (NHQ) published a weekly Navy Appointments List (NA List) which listed all appointments (transfers/postings) issued during that week.

Now — things must have changed — I understand that even the name of NHQ has been changed to IHQ (Integrated Headquarters).

Also — Base Supply Office (BSO) is now called Base Logisitics Office (BLogO) since the erstwhile “Supply and Secretariat” branch was renamed as the “Logistics” Branch.

By the way — IAT was the acronym for Institute of Armament Technology — which was renamed as DIAT (Defence Institute of Advanced Technology) — and later — after bifurcation — a part of the institution was renamed as MILIT (Military Institute of Technology).

As you can see — the Navy has a penchant for changing Names (and uniforms too).

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So — to come back to my story:

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My friend said to me:

“I had gone to INS India — to the Base Supply Office — for some work.

I saw your name in a NA List over there.

I have just come from there — and I came straight here to tell you the good news that you have been transferred to IAT Pune on Instructional Duties after your M. Tech.”

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I asked my friend:

“What about you…?

Is your name in the NA list…?

Has your new appointment been issued too..?”

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He said to me:

“No. My name wasn’t there.

I saw only your name in the NA list.

Why don’t you go down to NHQ and personally get your appointment letter…?”

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As I said — I was really delighted to be transferred to Pune — my hometown.

So — so I immediately drove down on my scooter to NHQ.

First — I went to INS India — to the Base Supply Office — and I checked the NA List folder.

Yes — my name was very much there — at Serial №12 of the list of 20 names.

The entry in the NA list said that I was appointed on Instructional Duties to IAT Pune “July DTBR”

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(In Naval Parlance — DTBR means “Date to be Recorded” — which meant that I could report to IAT Pune on any date in July — from the 1st to the 31st of July…)

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I wrote down the relevant details of the NA list on a piece of paper (a chit).

Then — I went to the Base Supply Officer (BSO) — a Commander.

I showed him the chit — and I asked him if my “appointment letter” had come.

The Base Supply Officer (BSO) called for the NA List folder.

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The BSO looked at the NA List — and he said to me:

“This NA list has just been issued.

It will take some time for the appointment letter to reach here.

They take their own sweet time to dispatch the letters.

Why don’t you go across to DOP and get your personal copy…?”

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So — I decided to do across to DOP.

(DOP was the acronym for Director of Personnel at Naval Headquarters)

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Those days we were very scared to go anywhere near DOP — because they were always on the prowl looking for “murgas” to transfer to “Kala Pani” — and other such remote places.

But I was so excited — that I drew up courage — and I walked into the office of the DDOP (Deputy Director of Personnel) who looked after our appointments.

I was delighted to see an officer who I knew very well sitting in the chair of DDOP — a Commander — he was a course-mate of my previous ship’s XO.

During those glorious sea-time days — when he was a Lieutenant Commander — he used to visit our ship quite often.

He was fond of drinking — and we had spent many evenings drinking together.

And — as you know — drinking together develops a unique “camaraderie”.

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The DDOP was happy to see me.

He told me that he had just taken over as DDOP just a day earlier on the 31st of March 1983.

The DDOP enquired about me — about my M. Tech. course etc.

And then — he asked me what I wanted.

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I told him the story.

Then — I gave him the chit on which I had written details of the NA List.

And — I asked the DDOP if I could have a copy of my appointment letter.

The DDOP called his deputy — the ADOP (Assistant Director of Personnel) — a Lieutenant Commander.

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The DDOP handed the ADOP the chit with NA List details.

And — the DDOP told the ADOP to give me a copy of my appointment letter.

The ADOP looked at the NA List details.

Then — looking confused — the ADOP said to the DDOP:

“Sir — we haven’t yet issued any appointment letters for officers doing M. Tech. at IIT’s.

Anyway — I will just check and get back to you, Sir…”

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After a few minutes — the ADOP came back.

And — the ADOP said to the DDOP:

“Sir — the NA list with this number has still not been issued…”

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The DDOP looked surprised when he heard this.

And — he exclaimed:

“What…?

How can that be possible…?”

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Then — the DDOP looked at me — and he said to me:

“Are you sure you saw this NA List in the INS India Base Supply Office…?”

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I said to the DDOP:

“Yes, Sir — I saw the NA List.

It is right on top in the NA list folder in the Base Supply Office…”

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The DDOP picked up the telephone and he dialled a number.

He seemed to be speaking to the Base Supply Officer (BSO).

The DDOP read out the number of the NA list — he waited for some time — he listened to the voice on the other side.

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And then — the DDOP said to me:

“You just go down to the Base Supply Office and get the NA list folder.

I want to get to the bottom of this mystery…”

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As I was leaving — I could hear him speak on the phone to the BSO:

“I am sending the officer to you…”

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The moment I reached the hutments where the Base Supply Office was located — I found a big gang of my friends waiting outside — with broad smiles on their faces.

Among my friends — standing prominently with a big smile on his face — was the Captain of my previous ship — my ex Commanding Officer (CO) — who was now a Commodore — posted in Naval Headquarters (NHQ).

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My ex ship’s CO told me that it was he who had orchestrated the whole practical joke.

I knew that I had been made an “April Fool”.

That afternoon — as the “victim” of the “April Fool” joke — I had to treat everyone to Beer in the INS India wardroom.

And — the DDOP and Base Supply Officer (who were also parties to the “April Fool” prank) — they also joined in the “elbow bending” PLD session for a glass of chilled beer.

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EPILOGUE

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During the PLD Beer Session — I put on a mask of cheerfulness on my face.

But — deep inside — I was feeling terrible.

I think the Commodore (my ex ship’s CO) and the DDOP noticed this — so they asked me:

“Tell us your choice of transfer on completion of your M. Tech. — where do you want to go…?”

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I said tongue-in-cheek to my ex ship’s CO and the DDOP:

“Sir — my choice of transfer is IAT Pune — I want to be posted to IAT Pune — just like you did in the “April Fool” joke…”

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My ex ship’s CO smiled — he seemed a bit contrite for having played the “April Fool” Joke on me.

The DDOP did not say anything.

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So — I said to the DDOP:

“Sir — if IAT Pune is not possible — please post me anywhere — except INS Valsura Jamnagar.

I don’t want to go back again to that remote desolate place…”

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The DDOP did not transfer me to IAT Pune.

Thankfully — they did not transfer me to INS Valsura Jamnagar — as I had feared.

They gave me an appointment in New Delhi itself — which meant that I didn’t have to move out of New Delhi.

Yes — 3 months later — in June 1983 — on completion of my M. Tech. — I was transferred to a billet in New Delhi as Assistant Director Naval R&D.

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It was a good job.

I was enjoying my tenure in New Delhi.

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Suddenly — 2 years later — in June 1985 — one day — out of the blue — I saw an appointment letter placed on my table.

I opened the letter — fearing the worst.

When I read the appointment letter — I was overjoyed.

I had been appointed as Faculty for Instructional Duties to IAT Pune July 1985 DTBR.

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Yes — the “April Fool” joke had become a reality.

I have been given my choice transfer to IAT Pune.

Maybe it was as a recompense for the “April Fool” prank — from the DDOP and my ex ship’s CO — and from all those who had played the “April Fool” joke on me.

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As they say:

“All’s well that ends well”

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Dear Reader,

Wish You a Happy “April Fool” on ALL FOOLS’ DAY

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VIKRAM KARVE

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Disclaimer:

1. This story is a spoof, satire, pure fiction, just for fun and humor, no offence is meant to anyone, so take it with a pinch of salt and have a laugh.
2. All stories in this blog are a work of fiction. Events, Places, Settings and Incidents narrated in the stories are a figment of my imagination. The characters do not exist and are purely imaginary. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
3. E&OE

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Link to my source blog post in my Blog Academic and Creative Writing Journal Vikram Karve: http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2017/03/humor-in-uniform-april-fool.html

© vikram karve., all rights reserved.

This Story was written by me 11 years ago in 2013 and earlier Posted Online by me Vikram Karve on 01 April 2014 in my Academic and Creative Writing Journal Blog at 4/01/2014 11:39:00 AM at url: http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2014/04/humor-in-uniform-how-i-was-made-april.html and later reposted at url: http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2015/03/april-fool-humor-in-uniform.html and http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2016/03/humor-in-uniform-april-fool-on-all.html and https://karve.wordpress.com/2018/03/31/april-fool-2/ and https://karve.wordpress.com/2019/03/31/humor-in-uniform-april-fools-day/ and http://karvediat.blogspot.com/2019/03/how-i-was-made-april-fool.html and http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2016/12/humor-in-uniform-practical-joke.html and https://karve.wordpress.com/2020/03/31/humor-in-uniform-april-fool/ and https://karve.wordpress.com/2021/03/31/humor-in-uniform-april-fool-2/ and https://karve.wordpress.com/2022/03/31/april-fool-3/ and https://karve.wordpress.com/2023/03/31/humor-in-uniform-april-fool-3/ and https://karve.wordpress.com/2024/03/31/how-i-was-made-an-april-fool/ etc

© vikram karve., all rights reserved.

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